still early

USAGE SUMMARY

"still early" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is often used to indicate that something is happening or occurring at an early stage, or before the expected or usual time. Example: "Although it was still early in the morning, the streets were bustling with people heading to work." Here, "still early" is used to describe the time of day, indicating that it is earlier than usual or expected for people to be out and about. Another example: "It's still early in the semester, but I'm already overwhelmed with assignments." In this sentence, "still early" is used to describe the stage or timeline of the semester, indicating that it is not yet very far along but the speaker is already feeling overwhelmed.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Is it "still early"?

The New York Times

It's still early.

The New York Times - Sports

"It is still early.

The New York Times

These are still early days.

The Economist

Granted, it's still early.

The Washington Post

Third, it's still early.

The Washington Post

It's still early on".

The New York Times

Still, early days.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

But these are still early days.

Independent

And it is still early days.

The Economist

"It's still early days," he said.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "still early" to describe a situation, ensure the context clearly indicates what the situation is early in relation to. For example, "It's still early in the project, so there's time to make adjustments."

Common error

Avoid using "still early" when the situation has already progressed significantly. Saying "It's still early" halfway through a year-long project might mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "still early" functions as an adverbial modifier describing a state or situation. It typically modifies an implied or stated time frame, indicating that the period is at its beginning. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "still early" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate that something is in its initial stages. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and broad applicability. Predominantly found in News & Media and Academic contexts, it serves to temper expectations and offer reassurance about future possibilities. When employing this phrase, it's important to ensure the context clearly identifies what timeline is being referenced. Alternatives such as "early days yet" or "too soon to tell" can be considered based on the specific nuance desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

early days yet

Emphasizes the preliminary stage of a situation or process.

premature to say

Highlights that forming a conclusion is not advisable at this time.

too soon to tell

Focuses on the lack of information to predict outcomes.

in its infancy

Metaphorically describes something in its beginning stages.

at the beginning

Indicates a starting phase, lacking substantial development.

just beginning

Highlights the recent start of an activity or process.

initial phase

Signifies the start of a structured process.

nascent stage

Suggests something newly formed and still developing.

at the outset

Focuses on the very start of something.

early stages

Implies the initial part of a longer process.

FAQs

How can I use "still early" in a sentence?

You can use "still early" to indicate that something is in its initial stages. For example, "It's "still early" in the game, so anything can happen".

What are some alternatives to saying "still early"?

Alternatives include "early days yet", "too soon to tell", or "premature to say" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "early still" instead of "still early"?

While not grammatically incorrect, "early still" is much less common and can sound awkward. "Still early" is the more natural and widely accepted phrasing.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "still early"?

Avoid using ""still early"" if the situation has demonstrably progressed beyond its initial phase or if significant events have already transpired.